Osteopath&#39;s electric operating-table.



Patllted May 30, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. W. HOTGHKISS.

OSTBOPATHS ELECTRIC OPERATING TABLE.

APPLIGATIQN FILED 1330.3, 1909. 993,447.

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C. W. HOTCHKISS.

OSTBOPATHS ELECTRIC OPERATING TABLE.

APPLIOATIQN FILED DBO. a, 1909.

993,447. I Patented Mayo, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

YlZNoRRIs PETERS co1, wAsHlNGroN, n. c2

UNITED STAES CHARLES W. HOTGI-IKISS,

OF SANDWICH, ILLINOIS.

OSTflil0Il?A'.l.I-IS ELECTRIC OPERATING-TABLE.

Specioaton of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1911.

App1icaton filed December 3, 1909.V Serial No. 531,280.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. Horen- KIss, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Sandwich, in the county of Dekalb and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inOsteopaths Electric Operating-Tables; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to a novel construction in a table for use byOsteopaths and masseurs for the purpose of electrically treatingpatients, the object being to provide simple, eiiicient and safe meansfor giving electric treatments, and consists in the features ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention: Figure l is atop plan view partly broken away and partly in section of a table andappurtenances constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the same. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail plansection partly in elevation showing the casing for batteries andinduction coil mounted on the table. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of ashoe to be worn by the operator and which is adapted to conduct theelectric current. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail section on the line 5 5of Fig. 4L, showing the means for conducting the electric currentthrough the sole of the shoe. Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of a movablefioor plate adapted to be substituted for the iioor conductorillustrated in Fig. 1.

My invention has for its particular object '40 to provide a veryconvenient method of insuring the closure of the secondary circuit fromthe induction coil through the operator and patient `at any point aroundthe operating table on which the patient rests and pro- .'45lviding forthe control of said circuit by means of the feet of the operator eitherto open or close the same and also to vary the same, it being a featureof my invention that the operator is subjected to the same current ofashis patient thus preventing excessive currents through the body of thelatter and a consequent superstimulation or sudden shocks.

The table employed may be of any of the usual varieties of operatingtables consisting of the middle portion A supported on 'the legs B andprovided at either end with a hinged head-rest C and foot-rest D,respectively, adjustably supported by means of the toothed quadrant Eand an engaging member mounted upon the frame of the table. All of theseparts are common to all operating tables and do not in .and ofthemselves constitute any part of my invention.

Secured to the bottom of the middle portion A of the table is areceptacle F containing a plurality of primary batteries G and aninduction coil I-I, the primary circuit through which is closed by theusual and well -known make and -break device commonly employed in allso-called medical batteries. An additional compartment I is provided insaid receptacle for a purpose hereinafter described. The battery circuitis controlled by means of a switch J interposed therein and which isdisposed on the table within easy reach of the operator.

One pole of the secondary circuit -is connected by means of wire K witha metallic yplate L mounted on thebottom of one of the legs of the tableand the other pole thereof is connected with a covering M of wire clothcovering the table and likewise the said head-and-foot-rests thereof. Inplace of the covering M of the table, the usual handle N may be usedwhich is held by the patient and is connected by means of flexible wirecord with the last-named pole of the secondary circuit as indicated inFig. 3.

Disposed upon the licor surrounding the table is a continuous strip O ofwire cloth or other good conductor forming a rectangle within which saidtable stands which is connected with the first-named pole of thesecondary circuit by means of a branch strip P extending inwardly andupon which the said metallic foot-piece L rests. In some instances itmay be necessary to dispense with said wire cloth O and use in placethereof a movable floor plate Q, shown in Fig. 6, which is connected byflexible wire R. with said metallic plate L, said plate Q being adaptedto be moved by the operator to any convenient point around the tabledepending upon where he is operating. The said plate Q, is preferablefor use in connection with a portable table and when not in use isinserted in the additional compartment I of the receptacle F, the latterbeing also adapted to receive the strips O which may be rolled up forthe purpose. The magnetic core S of the induction coil is longitudinallymovable into and out of the same to vary the secondary current in theusual and well-lniown manner, said armature being operable by hand andconveniently located for this purpose.

The operator wears the shoe T, the sole of which is equipped externallyand internally with metallic plates U secured by means of rivets orother electrical conductors passing through said sole, the current thuspassing through his body and thence to the patient upon resting thelower plate U upon the wire cloth O or the floor plate Q and placing thehands in contact with the body of the patient. Two of said shoes areworn by the operator and by resting either one or both of same upon saidwire cloth O the current is conducted with greater or less strength tothe patient and by removing both feet from said Wire cloth O thesecondary circuit is opened and hence no current i'lows through the bodyof the patient or operator.

t is preferable to employ the wire cloth covering M on the table so thatthe electric current is distributed more generally throughout the entirebody but obviously it will concentrate at the point of the body wherethe circuit is completed by contact of the operators hands therewith.That is to say, that where the body rests upon the said wire clothcovering and contacts with the same at a plurality of points the effectproduced is different from that resulting from the patients holding thehandle N for the reason that in the latter case the current passesthrough the arm and thence takes the most direct course to the point ofcontact of the operators hands with the body and the stimulating eilectproduced is accordingly more localized. By passing the current throughthe body of the operator the latter is at all timesr fully aware of itsintensity and is accordingly better enabled to properly regulate it tosuit the needs of the patient.

I claim as my invention:

l. Apparatus of the kind specified, comprising a table, an electricbattery carried thereby, an induction coil interposed in the batterycircuit, the secondary circuit being normally open, a covering ofconduct-ive material on said table connected with one pole ot thesecondary circuit, a metallic foot-piece on one of the table legsconnected with the other pole of the secondary circuit, and arectangular floor piece oil conductive material surrounding the tableand electrically connected with said foot-piece o't` the table leg, saidsecondary circuit being adapted to be closed through the bodies oli' thepatient and operator.

2. Apparatus oi the kind speciiied, comprising a table, an electricbattery carried thereby, an induction coil interposed in the batterycircuit, the secondary circuit being normally open, a covering ofconductive material on said table connected with one pole of thesecondary circuit, a metallic footpiece on one of the table legsconnected with the other pole of lthe secondary circuit, and arectangular floor piece of conductive material surrounding the table andelectrically connected with said toot-piece ot the table leg, and shoesfor the operator equipped with electrically conductive soles, saidsecondary circuit being closed through the bodies of the patient andoperator and its intensity varied by contact of one or both shoes withsaid floor piece.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CHARLES lV. HOTCHKISS. liVitnesses RUDOLPH VM. Lorz, E. H. MaoDoNELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

